10 Automakers to Make Automatic Emergency Braking Standard

As vehicle safety technologies advance, they are gradually added to the list of safety features recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). After proving they're worth on the streets, those new features might eventually become mandated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Now, 10 automakers have vowed to make Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) standard on future vehicles, paving the way for the rest of the industry.

"We are entering a new era of vehicle safety, focused on preventing crashes from ever occurring, rather than just protecting occupants when crashes happen," said Anthony Foxx, U.S. Transportation Secretary, in a release. "But if technologies such as automatic emergency braking are only available as options or on the most expensive models, too few Americans will see the benefits of this new era. These 10 companies are committing to making AEB available to all new-car buyers."

NHTSA and IIHS will work with these 10 automakers on a timeline to implement AEB as a standard feature across the board. Other automakers are encouraged to follow suit.

AEB systems have shown to reduce a large number of crashes, specifically rear-end crashes, according to the agencies. The systems use on-board sensors, cameras, or lasers to detect hazards forward of the vehicle and apply braking if the driver fails to do so.

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"The evidence is mounting that AEB is making a difference," said IIHS President Adrian Lund. "Most crashes involve driver error. This technology can compensate for the mistakes every driver makes because the systems are always on alert, monitoring the road ahead and never getting tired or distracted."

According to the IIHS, AEB systems can reduce insurance injury claims by as much as 35 percent, noting that the 10 automakers represent 57 percent of vehicle sales last year: a significant number of vehicles.

Earlier this year, AEB was added to NHTSA's list of recommended active safety features for its New Car Assessment Program. Last year, the agency announced that rearview cameras would be mandated by 2018. We expect AEB and other active safety tech become standard sometime after these 10 automakers voluntarily make them standard across their model line.